Arrow barrel for shooting ball bearing ammunition

ABSTRACT

An arrow barrel for shooting a ball bearing comprising: a shaft having a tail end and a head end opposite the tail end, the shaft being substantially cylindrical and hollow from the tail end to the head end and configured to receive the ball bearing; and a nock body coupled to the tail end of the shaft, the nock body having a bowstring end and an ammunition end opposite the bowstring end, the bowstring end comprising a bowstring notch configured to receive a bowstring, wherein a portion of the nock body is magnetized such that the nock body retains the ball bearing throughout the drawing of the bowstring and releases the ball bearing upon the release of the bowstring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/821,661, filed Aug. 7, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to arrows. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrow barrel for shooting ball bearing ammunition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary nock body in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary nock body shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary arrow barrel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the exemplary arrow barrel shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary arrow barrel having a tail-hook in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the exemplary arrow barrel shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of another exemplary arrow barrel configured for a crossbow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an exemplary closing end cap in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the closing end cap of FIG. 8 disposed on a nock of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an exemplary nock in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an exemplary arrow barrel installed on a bow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a close-up side view of an exemplary arrow barrel installed on a bow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary closing end cap in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary arrow barrel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a male part of a threaded closing end cap;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a female part of a threaded closing end cap; and

FIG. 17 is a side view of the male part of FIG. 15 threaded into the female part of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the components of arrow barrel 2, with like components numbered alike. Arrow barrel 2 comprises shaft/barrel 20 and tailhook nock 4. Nock 4 may be an independent component coupled to shaft 20, or alternatively, nock 4 may be integrally formed with shaft 20. In a preferred embodiment, both nock 4 and shaft 20 are substantially cylindrical in shape.

Nock 4 comprises an ammunition end 10 and a bowstring end 8 opposite ammunition end 10. Ammunition end 10 is configured to receive and retain ammunition such as standard ball bearing ammunition 6 through the use of magnetization. Bowstring end 8 is configured to receive and retain the bowstring, or drawstring, of any bow known in the art, including, but not limited to, compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows, composite bows, longbows, and flatbows. It is noted that bowstring and drawstring are used interchangeably herein. In a preferred embodiment, the drawstring is a multi-stranded string of either Dacron, Kevlar or Fastflight looped to the bownocks or teardrops (compound bows). However, it is contemplated that any drawstring known in the art may be used.

Bowstring end 8 of nock 4 comprises means for receiving and retaining a drawstring. In a preferred embodiment, nock 4 comprises drawstring retaining hole 12 and drawstring retaining slot 14 disposed proximate bowstring end 8. Retaining slot 14 communicates with retaining hole 12 so that a drawstring may be passed through retaining slot 14 into retaining hole 12. Preferably, retaining hole 12 is disposed at a height proximate the center of nock 4.

Nock 4 may be slipped over a standard bow drawstring, with the drawstring passing through retaining slot 14 and being retained in retaining hole 12. When the drawstring is pulled back and released to shoot, the drawstring secures nock 4. By securing nock 4, the drawstring also secures shaft 20. In this fashion, barrel 2, including nock 4 and shaft 20, moves forward quickly after the drawstring is released. As the drawstring and barrel 2 move forward, the drawstring eventually applies a braking force to barrel 2 at retaining hole 12, resulting in barrel 2 stopping as suddenly as the drawstring. The ammunition such as ball bearing 6, which is retained magnetically at ammunition end 10, is thrust toward the target with enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction. The ammunition is thereby projected towards the target, while barrel 2 stays with the drawstring.

Retaining slot 14 is preferably smaller in diameter than retaining hole 12 in order to prevent the drawstring from accidentally exiting retaining hole 12 and retaining slot 14. However, it is contemplated that the respective sizes of retaining slot 14 and retaining hole 14 may vary. A simple slotted plastic end cap 52 may also be used to cover slot 12 in order to prevent the drawstring from exiting. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, cap 52 may be configured to fit over bowstring end 8, accommodate drawstring 32 and block drawstring 32 from leaving retaining hole 12. Cap 52 is preferably substantially cylindrical in shape and comprises a slot 54 for receiving and retaining drawstring 32.

As mentioned above, the ammunition is retained magnetically at ammunition end 10 so that the ammunition may be held against nock 4 until the drawstring is pulled and released. This magnetic attraction may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, magnetized nock insert 5, such as a magnetized steel rod, may be disposed inside nock 4. This magnet holds the ammunition without barrel 2 having to be oriented at least horizontal to the ground to prevent the ammunition from sliding away from nock 4 and out of shaft 20. As seen in FIG. 2, magnetized insert 5 is preferably set back from the ammunition with only the nock 4, preferably made out of aluminum or some other non-magnetic metal, touching the ammunition so that the magnet is not too strong in holding the ammunition in place. In another embodiment, the entire nock 4 could be one weakly magnetized piece.

Shaft 20 comprises a tail end 24 and a head end 26 opposite tail end 24. Preferably shaft 20 is preferably hollow from head end 26 to tail end 24, or from head end 26 to nock 4, thereby forming shaft interior 22. Shaft interior 22 is configured to allow ammunition to pass through it. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of shaft interior 22 is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition. Shaft 20 may be formed from an aluminum arrow such as an Easton 2512 that is epoxy glued to nock 4, which may be inserted about ¾ of an inch inside shaft 20 as seen in FIG. 3.

Tail end 24 is configured to retain or house nock 4. Although the figures illustrate nock 4 as an independent piece that is coupled to tail end 24, it is contemplated that nock 4 may alternatively be integrally formed with tail end 24.

Head end 26 comprises exit aperture 29. Exit aperture 29 is an opening that communicates with shaft interior 22 and is configured to allow the ammunition to pass through it. In a preferred embodiment, exit aperture is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition. Exit aperture 29 provides an opening on shaft 20 from which the ammunition may be shot. Exit aperture 29 may also be used as a location for the user to load the ammunition.

Shaft 20 may also comprise loading hole 28 disposed in between ammunition end 10 of nock 4 and exit aperture 29 of shaft 20. Loading hole 28 is an aperture that communicates with shaft interior and is configured to allow the user to load the ammunition without having to drop it in at exit aperture 29. The user simply places the ammunition through loading hole 28 and into shaft interior 22. Barrel 2 may then be manipulated in order to direct the ammunition to the ammunition end 10 of nock 4 where it is magnetically retained until it is shot. In a preferred embodiment, loading hole 28 is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition.

It is contemplated that a forward hold down strap may be used to provide stability for barrel 2. This strap may comprise two pieces of Velcro looped around the bow or crossbow and barrel 2 in order to hold barrel 2 down and prevent it from bouncing around.

The barrel of the present invention may also be configured to accommodate a crossbow. A crossbow is usually cocked by pushing the front end against the ground, then loading the arrow. The string is then inside the trigger mechanism, so the user cannot slide the nock over the string. On some models that cock differently, such as pulling the string back by hand, you can pre-load the arrow using the nock alone.

Nock 4 may comprise crossbow drawstring notch 16 disposed at bowstring end 8. Crossbow drawstring notch 16 is simply a notch that accepts a crossbow drawstring. Either nock 4 or shaft 20 may comprise crossbow drawstring tailhook slot 18 for adjustably retaining crossbow drawstring tailhook 30. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, crossbow drawstring tailhook 30 is a rod, preferably comprising a hook shape, which is used with a crossbow drawstring 32 in order to secure barrel 2 to the crossbow drawstring 32. Crossbow drawstring tailhook 30 is adjustably disposed in tailhook slot 18. Tailhook slot 18 is preferably configured to allow tailhook 30 to be moved towards bowstring end 8 and away from bowstring end 8. Additionally, tailhook slot 18 is configured to secure tailhook 30 when tailhook 30 is in a position away from bowstring end 8. As seen in FIG. 1-5, tailhook slot 18 may extend in a direction towards head end 26. Tailhook slot 18 may then extend in a downward direction, after which it may terminate by briefly extending in a direction towards bowstring end 8. However, it is contemplated that tailhook slot 18 may be configured in a variety of other ways in order to adjustably retain tailhook 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the crossbow bolt barrel is placed on the crossbow and into the trigger mechanism after it is cocked. Tailhook 30 is then moved rearward at the top of slot 18. The rear of tailhook 30 may then pass over drawstring 32. Once the rear of tailhook 30 has been placed over drawstring 32, the front of tailhook 30 may be moved forward towards head end 26, then downward, and finally rearward into the shorter part of slot 18, thereby being secured in a position where it is hooked onto drawstring 32. Since tailhook 30 is hooked onto drawstring 32, tailhook 30 applies a braking force onto barrel 2 after drawstring 32 is released by the crossbow. In this fashion, tailhook 30 and tailhook slot 18 provide the same function as retaining hole 12.

The diameter of a crossbow bolt is smaller than a standard arrow for a recurve or compound bow. In order to handle all of these bows, the present invention provides crossbow arrow barrel 40. FIG. 7 illustrates crossbow arrow barrel 40. Crossbow arrow barrel 40 is similar to arrow barrel 2, with like components numbered alike. Although shaft 20 of crossbow arrow barrel 40 is the same as shaft 20 of arrow barrel 2, nock 42 of crossbow arrow barrel 40 comprises a slightly different design than nock 4.

Nock 42 comprises a bowstring end 44 and an ammunition end 46 opposite bowstring end 44. Since bowstring end 44 is the end that is placed into the trigger mechanism of the crossbow, it is smaller in diameter than the portion of nock 42 that does not go into the trigger mechanism. As seen in FIG. 7, this smaller diameter extends from bowstring end 44 to a substantial distance away from bowstring end 44. Preferably this smaller diameter portion 56 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has its bottom surface aligned with the bottom surface of shaft 20. Since drawstring end 44 is off-center with respect to shaft 20, the height of retaining hole 12 may be centered with respect to shaft 20 rather than nock 42 in order for retaining hole 12 to line up with the drawstring on a recurve or compound bow.

In a preferred embodiment, nock 42 comprises an upper offset 48 and a lower offset 50 where smaller diameter portion 56 meets shaft 20. Upper offset 48 represents the raising of the end of nock 42 to increase the diameter of nock 42 to the standard arrow size of shaft 20. Lower offset 50 represents the change in diameter of nock 42 so that the bottom of shaft 20 is flush with the bottom of nock 42 when arrow barrel 40 is installed on a crossbow.

Although FIG. 7 does not show all of the components shown in FIGS. 1-6, it is contemplated that arrow barrel 40 may comprise any of the components of arrow barrel 2 that are consistent with the basic principles of arrow barrel 40 such as loading hole 28.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of an exemplary nock in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a side view of an exemplary arrow barrel installed on a bow in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a close-up side view of an exemplary arrow barrel installed on a bow in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 13 shows an exemplary closing end cap in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an exemplary arrow barrel in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 15-17 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a closing end cap in accordance with the present invention. Male end 70 includes slot 72 for receiving a bow string, and threads 74 on upper and lower portions of male end 70. Male end 70 fastens inside female end 80 by threading into threaded aperture 82, thus retaining the bowstring in aperture 76 of male end 70. Female end 80 can be magnetized or contain a magnet to securely retain ammunition 6 during the draw of a bow string.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention. 

1. An arrow barrel for shooting a ball bearing comprising: a shaft having a tail end and a head end opposite said tail end, said shaft configured to receive said ball bearing; and a nock body coupled to said tail end of said shaft, said nock body having a bowstring end and an ammunition end opposite said bowstring end, said bowstring end comprising a bowstring notch configured to receive a bowstring, wherein a portion of said nock body is magnetized such that said nock body retains said ball bearing during drawing of said bowstring and releases said ball bearing upon release of the drawn bowstring. 